Martyrs’ festivals are no longer celebrated with full splendour.  I did not see any; their time is past.  I was, however, so fortunate as to see a martyr, to whom great numbers of people flocked.  This holy man had, for three-and-twenty years, held one of his arms raised up with the hand turned back so far that a flower-pot could stand upon it.  The three-and-twenty years were passed, and the flower-pot was removed; but neither hand nor arm were to be brought into any other position, for the muscles had contracted, the arm was quite withered, and presented a most repulsive appearance.

The Island of Elephanta is about six or eight miles distant from Bombay.  Herr Wattenbach was so kind as to take me there one day.  I saw some rather high mountains, which, however, we did not ascend; we visited only the temples, which are very near to the landing-place.

The principal temple resembles the larger viharas at Adjunta, with the single exception, that it is separated on both sides from the solid rock, and is connected with it only above, below, and at the back.  In the sanctuary stands a gigantic three-headed bust.  Some believe that it represents the Hindoo Trinity; one of the heads is full-faced, the two others in profile, one right, the other left.  The bust, including the head-dress, measures certainly as much as eight feet.  On the walls and in the niches, there are a number of giant statues and figures; in fact, whole scenes of the Hindoo mythology.  The female figures are remarkable; they all have the left hip turned out, the right turned inwards.  The temple appears to be devoted to the god Shiva.

In the neighbourhood of the large temple stands a smaller one, whose walls are also covered with deities.  Both temples were much injured by the Portuguese, who, when they conquered the island, in their noble religious zeal planted cannon before them, in order to destroy the shocking Pagan temples; in which attempt they succeeded much better than in the conversion of the Pagans.  Several columns are quite in ruins; nearly all are more or less damaged, and the ground is covered with fragments.  None of either the gods or their attendants escaped uninjured.

There is a most enchanting view across the sea of the extensive town, and the delightful hills surrounding it, from the facade of the large temple.  We passed a whole day here very agreeably.  During the hot hours of noon, we amused ourselves by reading in the cool shadows of the temple.  Herr Wattenbach had sent on several servants previously; among others, the cook, together with tables, chairs, provisions, books, and newspapers.  In my opinion, this was rather superfluous; but what would my countrywomen have said could they have seen the English family which we accidentally met with here; they carried several couches, easy chairs, enormous foot-stools, a tent, etc., with them.  That is what I call a simple country party!